SPOUTER'S SECRET
"Say, this is rather interesting," remarked Randy in a low tone to his
brother.
"That fellow is certainly threatening Brassy," returned Andy. "I wonder
what it can be all about."
"He wants Brassy to do something."
The two Rovers kept on behind Bangs and the man called Haddon, and
presently saw them turn down a side street where was located a small
factory that had been in operation during the war but which was now
closed. Both disappeared into a shed attached to the factory.
"Let's see if we can find out what it's all about," said Randy.
"I'm willing," answered his twin. "Maybe that fellow will grow abusive
and hurt Brassy."
"Well, a good licking wouldn't hurt him," answered his brother, with a
grin.
"Oh, that's all right. But we don't want to see him half killed even if
we don't like him."
"You trust Brassy to take care of himself," was the quick reply.
The twins hurried to the shed and there found that the door had been left
open and that the man and their fellow-cadet had gone into another part
of the low building.
"You know as well as I do that that barn and them hosses was worth at
least twelve thousand dollars," the man was saying to Brassy. "That was a
big loss for John Calder."
"Please don't say another word about it!" pleaded Brassy.
"I won't if you'll do as I told you to."
"But I've let you have a hundred and ten dollars already! It's every cent
I can spare!"
"Well, I've got to have more."
"I'll bet you've been gambling it away, Haddon."
"It's none of your business what Bud Haddon does with his money!"
exclaimed the stranger, with a toss of his head and blowing a ring of
tobacco smoke toward the ceiling of the shed. "If you don't want me to
start things you do as I told you to."
"Do you know what I think!" exclaimed Brassy, after a pause. "I think
those tramp cowboys were guilty."
"You can't put that off on no cowboys!" exclaimed Bud Haddon. "I know all
about it, and so do Jillson and Dusenbury."
"They don't know anything--at least they don't know anything about me!"
cried Brassy. But it was plainly to be seen that he was exceedingly
nervous. "Somebody's been cooking up a story against me!"
"Ain't nobody cookin' up nothin'," growled the man. "I know what I'm
talkin' about. You'd better get busy if you know when you're well off. If
you don't, and your uncle gets wind of this--well, good-night for you!"
"Oh, don't say anything to my uncle! Please don't!"
"Well, then you get busy. I've hung around here about as long as I intend
to. I'm goin' back to Chicago in a few days."
At this juncture the Rovers heard a noise outside, and several boys
playing hide-and-seek appeared. Not wishing to be discovered by Brassy
and his companion, Andy and Randy hurried out into the street and up to
the corner. Here they waited for a while, and presently saw Brassy and
Bud Haddon come forth. The man sauntered away in the direction of the
town while Brassy sped off on the winding road leading to Colby Hall.
"Now what do you make of this?" questioned Randy, as he and his brother
continued on their errand.
"It looks rather suspicious to me," answered Andy. "It looks as if Brassy
had done something that wasn't right and this man was going to expose him
unless Brassy paid over some hush money."
"Yes, and from what Brassy said, he evidently has already paid the man
one hundred and ten dollars."
On the way back to Colby Hall after their errand was finished the twins
discussed the matter, but could arrive at no satisfactory conclusion.
That evening they told their cousins of what they had heard, and also
mentioned the matter to Gif and Spouter.
"It looks to me as if that Bud Haddon had a hold on Brassy," remarked
Jack. "But whether Brassy is really guilty or not of some wrongdoing
remains to be found out."
"I wouldn't put it past him to do something that wasn't right," came from
Fred.
"That remains to be seen, Fred. Brassy might do some things that we
wouldn't do; but at the same time I doubt if he's so very bad at heart.
He's loud-mouthed and has a hasty temper, and he likes to show off, and
all that sort of thing, but that doesn't say he's a criminal."
"That Bud Haddon looks like a bad one," announced Randy. "I wouldn't
trust him with a nickel."
"It certainly is a mystery," came from Fred. "Just the same as it's a
mystery about Professor Duke."
"Gosh, don't mention Duke!" broke out Gif. "I had all I could do to keep
from getting into a row with him this morning. He certainly is a tart one
at times."
"But he looks troubled," answered Jack. "Ever since Colonel Colby spoke
about him I've been watching him carefully. And, believe me, that man has
something on his mind that's far from pleasant."
"He certainly comes and goes a good deal," said Spouter. "He was away
several hours last night and the night before. And I understand he's
going away to-morrow afternoon again."
"Colonel Colby must know it's all right. Otherwise he wouldn't let him go
away so much," declared Gif.
On the following morning when the mail was distributed Spouter received a
letter from his father that interested him greatly. He read the
communication several times, and then, placing it in his pocket, ran off
to where he had left Gif.
"Come on, Gif!" he cried gayly. "I've got great news! Come ahead and help
find the Rovers."
"What's the news?" demanded the other, as they hurried on side by side.
"Just wait and I'll tell you all about it--maybe." And then Spouter
stopped short, struck by a sudden idea. He thought for a few seconds and
then his face broke into a broad smile.
The two boys found the Rovers up in Room 20, which the four cousins used
as a sitting room. All were busy studying and looked up in surprise as
Spouter dashed in with Gif at his heels.
"Glorious news, boys! Glorious news!" sang out Spouter, as he beamed at
them.
"What is it?" they demanded in chorus.
"Glorious, I tell you, glorious!" Spouter waved his hands eloquently.
"Why remain cooped up here within the dingy walls of a school when the
mighty plains, the boundless forests, the leaping streams, and the azure
blue of the skies await you? Why snuff the tainted air of the musty
classroom when the free ozone of the hills and mountains beckons to you?
Why waste time over musty books when rifle and fishing rod can be had,
when one can fling himself in the saddle and go dashing madly across
the----"
"Jumping crabs and hopping mud turtles!" exclaimed Andy. "Spouter has got
'em again!"
"What is this, Spouter?" demanded Randy. "A moving picture, or just a
plain everyday nightmare?"
"Ha, ha!" continued Spouter, prancing around. "Whoopee! Bang! Bang! Let
her go, boys! Lasso him quick before he gets away!" and the talkative
cadet made a movement as if throwing a lasso.
"Say, Spouter, come down to earth, will you?" cried Jack, grabbing his
chum by the shoulder. "What's the matter with you?"
"Maybe he swallowed a few yeast cakes by mistake," remarked Andy.
"It's the best news ever, fellows!" went on Spouter. "I got it this
morning."
"All right! Let's have it," came quickly from Fred.
"I've been waiting for this news for several weeks."
"News from where?" came from the others.
"News from home."
"From your dad?" questioned Randy.
"Exactly."
"What has he done now--bought you an automobile?" questioned Gif.
"Better than that!"
"For goodness' sake, spill out what you've got to say!" returned Fred, in
exasperation.
"When we went to Cedar Lodge on our grand hunt we were Gif's guests,"
resumed Spouter. "This summer the tables are to be turned, and all of you
are to be the guests of yours truly."
"Gee, that sounds interesting, Spouter!" cried Randy.
"Where do we go and when?" questioned his twin.
"You're to go just as soon as school shuts down and you can get ready."
"And where to?" questioned Jack curiously.
"Ha! that's the deep, dark and delightful secret," returned Spouter.
"You're all to be my guests, and I'll promise you the time of your lives.
Oh, boys, but this is going to be something great!" And the cadet
playfully pounded one and another on the shoulder with his fist.
"But how can we go if we don't know where we're going?" asked Fred.
"You'll know, Fred, before you're on the way," was the mysterious answer.
"And, believe me, after you've found out you won't want to turn back."
"What! do you mean you're not going to tell us where we're going?"
demanded Jack, in astonishment.
"Exactly, Jack. That's going to be my little secret until this school
shuts up," and Spouter folded his arms calmly and grinned at all his
chums.
They looked at him in blank amazement. This was a proceeding that had
never happened before. Suddenly Gif made a dash forward.
"Let's pound it out of him!"
"That's the talk! We'll make him tell!"
"Pull him down and sit on him!"
"Pull off his shoes and tickle his feet! He's got to tell!"
"Poke him in the ribs!"
"He got a letter this morning. I'll bet the news is in that!" shouted
Gif. "It's in his pocket now!"
All attempted to pounce upon Spouter, but he was too quick for them, and,
dashing across the room, he shot into Fred's bedroom, banging the door
after him. Then, as the others followed, he ran out into the corridor and
then sped for his own room, where he locked the door behind him. Then he
hid the letter in a place where he was sure none of his chums would find
it.
"Well, this takes the bakery!" announced Randy, after all of them had
pounded on Spouter's door in vain. "What do you suppose it means?"
"It's simple enough," remarked Jack. "Spouter is going to invite us on
some sort of outing this summer, but he doesn't want to tell us yet what
sort it's to be."
"He spoke about mountains and rivers and horseback riding," said Randy.
"That looks like some sort of outdoor affair," and his eyes glistened.
"Come on out, Spouter, and let us love you a little," called Fred through
the keyhole.
"You go on down and I'll meet you downstairs," was the reply. "And
remember, you're not to know another word about this until vacation
comes."
"Going to take us away in a submarine, Spouter?" demanded Andy.
"No, he's going to take us in an airship to the south pole," declared his
twin.
"Never mind where I'm going to take you," answered Spouter. "You just
keep calm until vacation time comes, and then you'll learn fast enough in
what direction you're going to travel. And, believe me, we'll have some
outing, or else I'll miss my guess."
And with this statement the Rover boys and Gif had to be content.